Grain shocker



Feb; 2 1926..

S. ZARAN GRAIN SHOCKER Filed Sept. 1'7, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I a & 53202477, fiat y Feb. 2 ,1926. 1,571,223

- s. ZARAN;

GRAIN SHOCKER Fi p 17, 1923 3 Sheets-$heet 2 1,571,223 s. ZARAN mum snbcxsn 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ill Q .Q v 7 i I Feb. 2 1926.

Filed Sept. 17, 1923 Patented eb. Z, 1926.

UNITED STATES STIV ZARAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN SI-IOCKER.

Application filed September 17, 1923.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Srrv ZARAN, a subject of the King of Serbia, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Shockers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for shocking grain, being particularly concerned with certain improvements in the means for up-ending the bundles of grain, for feeding them through the apparatus, for tying a number of bundles together to form a shock, and for delivering the shock upon the ground, and in the means for operating these several mechanisms through driving connec tions which are timed in accordance with the requirements of the work. Other objects of my invention will also appear hereinafter from the description and claims to follow, and from the accompanying drawings wherein the apparatus is represented in the manner following:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the machine Fig. 2 is a View mostly in plan, the knotter shaft, however, being shown in'section;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line t4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the conveyor mechanism which acts on the grain bundles as they enter the machine.

The apparatus herein shown comprises a body A mounted on suitable ground wheels from one of which. designated at 10. power may be transmitted to the several operating mechanisms. These include a conveyor B which takes the grain as it is delivered hori zontally in bundles and moves it along be tween curved and spiral walls, the bundles meanwhile being turned to stand on their ends; a plurality of oscillating feeding arms C which advance the grainbundles against a yielding support; an oscillating needle D which cooperates with a suitable knotter to tie a number of grain bundles into a shock; a second conveyor E which moves the shock of grain to the delivery end of the machine; and an ejecting device F which pushes the shock from the machine on to the ground. These several mechanisms, as well as the power connections between them, are

Serial No. 663,072.

peculiarly formed and arranged, all as will now be explained. v

The body of the machine may perhaps be best understood by reference to Fig. 2, where it is shown to comprise a bottom 11 from which upstand side walls 12 and 13. Toward the front end the wall 12 curves toward the other to provide a throat or neck 14, and then curves away again and torsionally as at 15; likewise the bottom 11 at its forward end is curved upwardly as at 16, and, in co-operation with the spirally curved wall end 15, provides guiding walls along which the grain is adapted to be moved and shifted from a horizontal into a vertical position. Forwardly of the other wall 13 which terminates as at 17 is a curved guiding flange 18 extending around in general conformity with the curvature of the other Wall 12. By this constructionI provide at the front of the machine a side facing mouth or opening adapted to receive grain bundles horizontally.

A means for moving the grain along the guiding walls and causing the bundles to be up-ended during such movement is represented in the endless conveyor B which may comprise a pair of endless chains 20 carrying between them rods 21 on which are mounted pins 22 adapted to engage with the grain. These chains are each shown as traveling over sprocket wheels 23 and 24 the former mounted upon a horizontal shaft 25, and the latter upon a substantially vertical shaft 26. Because of this arrangement the conveyor is required to travel through a torsional path which conforms closely to that of the guiding walls along which the grain is moved. As shown, this convevor which lies above the grain at the mouth of the machine presents one edge close to the flange 18, and extends to a point Which is adjacen. the front end 17 of the wall 13.

\Vithin the neck or throat of the body the grain is stood on end by the means described.

At this point the feeding arms C act on the material to advance it further into the position Where it is formed into a shock. As shown. there are two pairs of these arms, each designated as 30, and mounted on oppositely disposed cranks 31 of a shaft 32 which is arranged substantially vertical upon the outer side of the body wall 13. The acting end 33 of each arm is suitably pointed to engage with the grain, and in operation is projected through a slot 34 which is formed in the body wall 13. The oppos te .arnrend is connected with a link which ispivotedlo-osely upon a shaft 36 also mounted upon the outer side of the body side 13. By the means described the sev eral feeding arms, which,by preference, are each bent in the direction of grain inovement, will oscillate in pairs in alternation about a shifting axis so ,as to feed the .upstanding grain rearwardly through the ma chine.

Associated with the devices j ustlexplained is the needle D, theconstruction of which appears best in Eig. As shown, .it com- .prises an ar n l-O bent in :the direction of grain trayel through the machine, and is connected toan oscillating shaft 4-;1.bytwo brace arms 42 and 43,the former ofwhich is preferably bent in adirection similar to the arm 40. illheshaft 4-41 is likewise mounted upon the outerside of the body wall '13, being journaled within suitable zbearings whereon it may oscillate periodically as ereinafter explained. in its movements the needle passes through a .slot a l that is formed ,in the body wall. its acting end 45 passing along ,through a second slot 46 that is fornied in the opposite body wall 12 so as to co operate with a knotter 4:701 any, sui

able construction. As shown in F 1 such a knotter may be carrie] upon rotatable shaft 48 that ext-ends in a substantially vertical direction upon the outer side the body wall where it is mounted within suitable bearings. By the means described, the needle, when operated periodically, will pass around behind sevenal bundles of grain to carry a binding twine which, with the aid of the. 'knotter, will elfect a tying ,of the several bundles in shock formation.

Mounted upon the shaft 36 is an arm 51 extending through a suitable opening in the body wall to lie interiorly thereof in the path .of the grain bundles which are advanced by the feeding arms G. This 51111151 is extended for a desired distance across the path of the oncoming grain and, by preferonce, is rearwardly bent as shown in Fig. A spring; 52 (see Fig. -33) is connected with a crank arm 53 that extends from the shaft 36 so as to normally maintain the latter in such rockable position that the arm 51 will be yieldingly projected into the machine body substantially as shown. lVith continued Increment of the grain, however, this arm is forced to yield against the tension of the spring; 52, and when su'liiciently pressed back by grain bundles of a predetermined aggregate bulk or size, will cause the needle D to be operated in a manner which will hereinafter be explained to tie the shock. The arm 51. innne'diately prior to the tying operation, therefore serves as a yielding supportfor tripping the needle operatingmechan sm.

During the movements heretofore described, the grain is ,pushed along whlle standing-on its butt end these movements taking place over the bottom of the machine tconsequently other feeding means D from this point on are provided. Such means are positioned in the bottom of the machine oody whereon the shock is rested, and are operated periodically in timed relation to :the needle =movements so that the aworkreanaiins stationary while being bound, but thereafter is conveyed toward the delivery end of the machine to beperiodically ejected therefrom.

As shown best in Fig. 2, the conveyor comprises a pair of endless chains 55 arranged to travel over suitable sprocket wheels 56 and 57, mounted upon shafts '58 and '59, respectively. Both shafts are positioned beneath the body bottom, "the one 58 ahead of the other 59, so that the movement of the two chains is in a direction lengthwise of the machine. The four sprocket wheels flie in a substantially tangential relation to the body bottom so that a portion of .each vchain is substantially flush therewith. Between the two chains is arranged a plate 60 substantially flush with "the body bottom and adapted to reduce to a substantial minimum the size of the slots through which the chains and their associated parts are required to pass in their travel around the sprocket wheels 56 and 57. I connect the chains with a plurality of bars or rods 61 whereon are carried pins :62 adapted to engage with the bottom end of the grain shock so as to move the same alongtoward the delivery point of the machine. These rods with pins thereon constitute the feeding device, but, as appears best inFigs. 1 and 3, they are extended at regular intervals between the two chains for only about a onehalf portion of the length of each. In such circumstances the feeding pins may all be brought into operative position at one time upon the upper side of the plate 60 and at other times be all disposed on the under side thereof where they are removed from con tact with the grain. Accordingly, I so arrange the timing of the conveyor that the feeding pins are out of the way as the grain bundles are pushed along into the position where they are bound into a shock, but immediately thereafter cause the conveyor to operate with the result that these pins are then brought into engagement with the butt end of the shock to effect its further movement rearwardly of the machine.

I provide at the rear end of the machine skid bars, 65 whereon the grain shock is pushed preliminary to its descent upon the ground. As shown, these bars are arranged in parallelism so as to provide a suitable support 011 which the shocks may be safely slid to their final position of rest. These several skid bars are shown as connected at one end to a connecting bar 66 which extends transversely across the machine at the rear end of the body bottom and flush therewith.

The ejecting means F, by which each shock is mechanically pushed from the machine, will now be explained. As shown, it comprises two sets of mechanisms, each alike, and connected to operate in unison. Each of these mechanisms includes a plurality of arms 70 carried fast upon a vertical shaft 71 that is mounted at the rear end of the machine to the outer side of one of the body sides. Slots 72 are provided in each body wall adjacent the arms 7 0 so that the same may pass therethrough while executing a swinging movement which extends through 360. The arms 70 connected to each shaft 71 project across the body for slightly less than one-half its width, and, in co-operation with the opposite arms, form, in efiect, a gate through which the grain shock may not pass when the parts are related as shown in Fig. 2. By the means which will presently be explained, these arms are each adapted to swing rearwardly at periodical intervals, thereby opening the gate for the discharge of the shock. Continuing their movements these two sets of arms swing around to the outside of the body into a forward position, and thence through the slots 72 to enter the body once more behind the grain shock which previously is moved to the rear end of the plate by the conveyor D. The further'movement of the shock is then effected with continued rotation of the ejecting arms which, as before stated, act to push the grain clear off of the body and onto the skid bars 65.

From the preceding description, the general construction and operation of my shocker should be clearly understood. It remains to be explained how and by what means its several operating mechanisms are connected up for co-operative movement in the manner already set forth. This part of my invention is as follows:

Connect-ed to rotate with the ground wheel 10 is a sprocket 7 5 over which travels a chain 76 that also passes around a second sprocket 77 which is carried fast on the main power shaft 78. This shaft extends transversely beneath the machine body in a relatively forward position thereof. If desired, the shaft 78 may be driven by power from any other source, as from a harvesting machine adjacent thereto, in which event, a beveled gear 79 may be conveniently applied to the shaft so as to mesh with a second gear 80 on a jack shaft 81 which carries a sprocket wheel 82 over which a chain 83 is adapted to travel, .this latter chain transmitting the power from the source desired.

The power shaft 78, as before stated, extends transversely beneath the body of the machine and carries at its opposite end a beveled gear 85 which lies adjacent the lower end of the crank shaft 32 whereon is secured a co-operating gear 86. With rotation of the main shaft 78 the crank shaft will also be rotated to effect a continuous operation of the oscillating feeding arms C. A chain drive 87 may also extend from the crank shaft to the shaft 26 situated for wardly thereof whereon the two sprocket wheels 24 are mounted. By this connection the conveyor B is caused to operate continuously so as to feed the grain bundles which are introduced into the machine.

From the crank shaft 32 another chain drive 88 extends to a collar 89 that is mounted loosely on a shaft 90 that is journaled for rotation within suitable bearings upon the outer side of the body wall 13. Formed integrally with this collar is a wheel 91 having internal ratchet teeth 92 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 93 that is swingingly secured to the shaft 90. Normally this pawl is pushed into engaging relationship with the ratchet teeth 92 by means of a spring 94 which extends between the pawl and an arm 95 that is fixed to the shaft. 1 provide on the pawl an upstanding lug 96 adapted to be engaged by one end of a lever 97 which is pivoted to a bracket 98 that extends outwardly from the body side 13. In its position of engagement this lever bears against a stop 50 where it is normally held under the tension of a spring 99 connected therewith. This lever, which has the function of tripping the pawl so as to unclutch the sleeve head from the shaft 90, is actuated by a cam 100 that is carried on the shaft 36 whereon the arm 51 is mounted. This shaft is oscillated with each accumulation of grain bundles sufficient to form a shock, as previously explained, and each such movement causes the cam 100 to be rotated to rock the lever 97 away from the lug 96 permitting the pawl 93 to engage with the sleeve head with the result that the shaft 90 is rotated for a limited interval of time. The parts remain so related until after the grain shock is conveyed past the arm 51 which thereupon is returned to the position of Fig. 2 under the action of the spring 52, this movement resulting in a reversal of the cam 100 and consequent stoppage of the shaft 90.

A beveled gear 101 carried by the shaft 90 at its lower end engages with a compleinentary gear 102 which is mounted on a transverse shaft 103 extending across to the opposite side of the body, its end adjacent tiieretb i h ein g equipped With a bevele 1 gear "104, i liith meshes ivithfacomplementary gear l 5o'n the 'l'owr'ii d of the vertically extending shaft 48. By this train ot'eon- :n'eeti'ons, the ilniotter is caused to operate'periodiea-lhr. From an eeefentrie hin 106 -o'n neg-eh 105 a. pitmahltllisconneeted with a "craiilt afih 108on 'the fotver e11'd'ot the needle 7 than 41, thereby pievidiiig OSCilinalams raitlie" 11dle *D effective only when thearnifil is heingpi'es'sed back under the ii'etion of the joiie'omin'g grain bundles. The operatioii of the 11"ee"clle, as well as of the Rhon -fie amending-1 confined to just the period iibted. I v

i'iehaih drive 110 (see Fig. eonneets the inert shaft 78 with elhte'h collar 111 that is firiedly "moiinte'd on Fa rotatable. shaft 11 A cooperating e'lutel'i le ollar 113 is slidingly arranged on this shine shaftand is s'iiitably connected by a chain drive 114: with the shatt 58 ltdrihi'ng jja'rt of the endlesseonteydrfl). any suitable means the cl teh 'eo'l'la'r 113'1'hay he normally ithheld irrom engagement with the Constantly rotating collar 111, so that the shaft 58 will tend to remain stationary. A periodic rotation or this shaft, however, is assured by an arm 115 which is earried tast on the 'pitman 107 so that With each rotation of the shaft 18 the pitman will he reciproeated to shift the arm 115 against theslidi'ng clutch collar 113 with the result that a driving eonnection is provided hetween the power shaft 78 and the conveyor E.

From this Construction it results that the periodic operation of this c o'nveyoris definitellv timed in accordance with thespassage tliro l 'h the machine of the grain bundles that areto be shocked,

The ehains oi the conveyor I) carry phiver to the rearitard shatt 59 on eaeh end of ivliich is a beveled gear- 116 mesh with a conhgleihentary gear 117 carried on one end ar horizontal jack shaft 120, one siich shait heing ihount'ed on, each of the two body wal1e12and13, Beveled gear conl'ie c'tions 118 aiitl 119 serve to rotate in 1misoii the we shafts 1 Wh'ei-eoii are mounted the ejecting arms 70, ,so that a iiei'iodic mov eiii eiit is imparted thereto. In this mhiiner the shock of grain; which is delivered to the rear tintl of themaehihe is mechtiiiieally pushed off, intact, .upon the h'roimd ivhere it requires no fiii'ther iinine diate attention. I h v It is iiiaiiifest, of course, that the particular arrangement and construction oi the driving eoiiiieetions may be modified Within considerable limits without affecting in a 115] ah'pi' eiahle degree the principles of oneratioii \i'hich underlie {this irvention. It is rather in respect of the continuously operating conveyor vhieh takes the grain when first received in the machine, and the sev- 1 ii "a to such 'feat u res.

1 3 1 5, 1. In a shocker, the combination offeonother means acted upon by the pressure of the grain biindles as the same are advanced by the continuously operat ng feeding 1 ans toreausing the tying means to be opted, a second feeding devieejhavingfla ReriodieYinoveinent such asto Operate only after each shock s-tied and adapted to move the'sainejto the delivery endof the machine, a'nd inean's for mechanically moving: the shock therefrom onto the ground, substantially'as described, i

1 In grainshoelrer, theeombination of an endless conveyor adapted to feed grain bundles through the initialportion of their movement, oscillating feeding; arms adapted to move the grain through the second portion of their movement, means for continuo'i'zsly operating both the conveyor and oscillating arms, a needle adapted to tie into a shoel: a plurality of 'grain bundles after completion of movement at the hands of the oscillating; arms, means set inmotion by pressure oi the grain bundles for causing: the t1. ing needle to be periodically operated, and other means connected, therewith ior thereafter moving the shock for delivery npon the ground, substantially as described. In a. shocker, the Combination of feeding' deviees adapted to, act upon grain bundles, said devices including an endless eonvevor, for advancing thegrainthrough the initial portion of its movement, oscillating t'eeding' arms foig advaneing the grain throiigh the succeeding portion of its move merit, means foneifecting 21 Continuous oner ation of both the conveyor. and feeding arms, meanstor tying the graininto a shock at the completion of its movement at the hands of the feeding arms; other feeding deadapted to remove the shock from the machine, incl riding anendless conveyor and an ejeetingdevice, vand means for eaiising a periodie operation of said conveyor arid ejecting devise at the completion of each tyine; operation, substantially hs described.

1. In a shoclrcr, the combination of a spirallv arranged endless conveyor adapted to Feed grain hundlesthrough the initial portion of their moveii'ient oseillatinh' feeding arms adapted to move the grain through a sot-0nd portion of their movement, means tor continuouslv operating both the conveyor and oscillating arms, a needle adapted to tie into a shock a plurality of grain timronslyoper ating meansfor feeding grain huiidles throngh the maeh ne lnieans for :ty ng a plurality of hundles 1nto ,a shock,

bundles after completion of movement at the hands of the oscillating arms, means set in motion by pressure of the grain bundles for causing the tying needle to be periodically operated, and other means connected therewith for thereafter moving the shock for delivery upon the ground, substantially as described.

5. In a shocker, the combination of feeding devices adapted to act upon grain bundles, said devices being in part continuously operated and in part periodically operated, the continuously op'erating devices including an endless conveyor arranged to move through a spiral path for shifting horizontal bundles of grain to a vertical position while undergoing the initial portion of their movement, and oscillating feeding devices for advancing the grain While upstanding on its butt ends through a succeeding portion of its movement, and the periodically operating devices including a knotter mechanism for tying a plurality of bundles into ashock, an endless conveyor for removing the shock while standing on its end, and an ejecting device having a swinging movement such as to adapt it for engagement with the shock from the rear side thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a shocker, the combination of feeding devices adapted to act upon grain bundles, said devices including an endless conveyor traveling through a spiral path for moving horizontal bundles of grain into a vertical position, means for advancing the grain through a succeeding portion of its movement, means connected to a power source for effecting a continuous operation of both the conveyor and feeding means, means for tying the grain into a shock at the completion of its movement at the hands of the feeding means, other feeding devices adapted to remove the shock from the machine including an endless conveyor and an ejecting device, and means connected with the power source above mentioned for causing a periodic operation of said conveyor and ejecting device at the completion of each tying operation, substantially as described.

STIV ZARAN. 

